Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #304 in Kent public Top 56% UK

Fordcombe Church of England Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Chris Blackburn

corporate_fareTHE TENAX SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onTunbridge Wells, TN3 0RY

language Visit Website phone 1892740224

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2016

groups

Students

school

Expected Standard

62%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.8x

summarize

Fordcombe Church of England Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Tunbridge Wells, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 56% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Fordcombe Church of England Primary School is an academy converter in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of THE TENAX SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 62 pupils on roll, of whom 34% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 23% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #304 of 424 primaries in Kent and #9,912 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2016. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 61%

Reading77% LA 74%

Writing85% LA 72%

Maths69% LA 70%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

33%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading67% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing67% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths33% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

100%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading100% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths100% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.1

Read

LA -0.4

0.1 to 6.0

4.2

Write

LA -0.2

1.3 to 7.0

1.2

Maths

LA -1.2

-1.6 to 4.0

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 October 2022

Inspection Report

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11 October 2018

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2016-02-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-10-23

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 62 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	62	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	59	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	62	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	58	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	57	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	71	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	70	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	73	1	1.4%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	89	2	2.2%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	91	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	87	6	6.9%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	101	2	2.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	96	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	93	2	2.2%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	99	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	99	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	97	3	3.1%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	99	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	91	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	97	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree32%

agree56%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree60%

agree40%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree28%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree40%

agree40%

disagree8%

don't know12%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree36%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree44%

disagree4%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree28%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree84%

agree16%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree72%

agree28%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Outstanding

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Thornden Wood Primary School

Good

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Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

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The Discovery School

Outstanding

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Thornden Wood Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School